Reed, McCaul caution against U.S. offensive in Syria

8/25/13 11:18 AM EDT

There was bipartisan agreement on CBS's “Face the Nation” Sunday that the American people will not support broad U.S. military intervention in Syria.

Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, both warned that a U.S. intervention in Syria won’t be popular.

"We can't let ourselves get into a situation where this becomes a springboard for a general military option," Reed said.

Reed said that before any action can be taken, authorities must be sure that it was the regime of Bashar Assad, not the rebels fighting his government, had used chemical weapons.

“We have to verify that it was directed by the Assad regime because that will allow us to build an international coalition because that will allow us to take any further steps in Syria,” Reed said.

McCaul warned against sending in U.S. ground troops and cautioned that cruise missiles are no guarantee to eliminate Assad’s weapons stockpiles..“I don’t think that American people have an appetite to put troops on the ground in Syria,” McCaul said.

McCaul repeatedly said he's on “the American side” of the Syrian civil war, adding the situation is rapidly deteriorating.

“Every time I get briefed on this issue, it gets worse because it’s become a Mecca for the jihadists,” he said. “They are traveling from all over the world, Al-Qaeda factions into Syria to fight the Assad regime.”